Obi Mikel blasts Jackson on Chelsea red card: ‘Stupid mistake to make’

Photo Credit - Chelsea Media.

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has urged Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson to shoulder the blame following the team's 3-1 FIFA Club World Cup defeat against Flamengo at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday.

The 24-year-old Senegalese striker, who had come on as a substitute in the 64th, was shown a straight red card for an aggressive studs-up challenge on Ayrton Lucas. The sending off came at a time when the Premier League outfit were already trailing 2-1 and the incident left the Blues a man down during a critical stage of the game.

“Unbelievable, stupid mistake you can make," the former Chelsea midfielder told DAZN as quoted by allnigeriasoccer. “I don't know what is going through his head, you come into the game and you're 2-1 down at that point and your team needs you to get back into the game, and he does that.”

Obi Mikel continued: “He did that in the league game at Newcastle, a very important game where we need to win to get into the Champions League. And now he's coming again and he's done this. You can't keep making mistakes.”

Asked whether Jackson was deliberately reacting to Chelsea's recent decision to sign Liam Delap, Obi Mikel said: “I don't care what he's frustration is, it is a massive football club and it is about competition. If you're angry that Delap is coming to the club and he the competition with you then you have to embrace it.

“Because the only way we can be successful and win trophies is when we compete against each other.”

The defeat left Chelsea second in Group D with three points, while Flamengo took control of the section with a second win. Chelsea will next face African side Espérance Sportive de Tunis on Wednesday.